Condition Dependent and Infection Dependent Mate Preferences in Women: Preferences for Healthy Appearing Men are Associated with General Condition and Measures of Infection

摘要

Condition dependent mate choice in females, whereby condition or attractiveness influences preferences for markers o f male quality, is seen both in non-humans and humans. There are several possible explanations for such effects. For example, in previous studies of fish it has been postulated that females in poor condition have energetic constraints limiting their choosiness. In this article, preferences for healthy facial appearance were measured in women and related to measures of condition. Questions were associated with two factors: a factor reflecting general health and condition (related to self -ratings of attractiveness, health, and physical fitness) and a factor reflecting experience of and current state of infection (colds per year and current cold). General health and condition were positively related to preferences for healthy appearance in male faces, in line with previously seen condition dependent preferences. However, the measure of current and previous infection was also positively related to preferences for healthy appearance in male faces. While these two findings appear to conflict, in fact, they may reflect different mechanisms at work. Previous explanatio ns, such as competitiveness for mates and/or energetic constraints may explain general condition dependent preferences. In terms of avoiding contagion, ho wever, those most at risk may benefit most from increased attraction to healthy partners: "infection dependent" mate preferences. In this way, general condition may be positively related to preferences for male quality b ut infection or experience of infection, while associated with a lo wering o f condition , may also be positively associated with preferences for male quality.